Apparatus for dispensing individually predetermined lengths of a web material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically dispensing individually predetermined lengths of a web material, such as textile, from a bolt of same. An inclined transport surface conveys a bolt introduced by a customer towards a flip-over mechanism including rods on chains, the textile thereby being unwound from the bolt, the length of the unwound textile being measured by a rotative measuring device, the predetermined length of textile being severed by a severing device. The separated length is delivered to the customer for removal from the apparatus in folded condition together with the bolt in a receptacle displaceable along rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensingindividually predetermined lengths of a web material, such as textilematerials, wallpaper and the like from a roll of wound web material.

2. Description of Background Art

When dispensing lengths of such web material in retail vendingoperations it is quite time-consuming to manually release the requiredlength of web material from the roll, manually measure the lengthrequired and manually sever the length from the roll. Furthermore, theaccuracy of the manual measuring and severing depends on the particularperson performing these operations. Apart from the quite largevariations in accuracy because of individually varying degrees of care,skill and concentration, the manual process itself is quite inaccurate,particularly when the lengths involved require a plurality of repeatedmeasuring operations, and even more so when the roll is unwieldy.Because of these inaccuracies, and the requirement inherent in the useof such web materials that the length should not be shorter thanrequested by the customer, it is necessary to systematically dispenselengths longer than requested. This factor, together with unavoidablemistakes in manual severing and measuring causing wastage represent aconsiderable loss, particularly when the web materials involved arecostly.

Commonly, the web materials in question are stocked wound into rollswith a central core, such as bolts of cloth, fabric and the like. Suchrolls, particularly bolts of cloth or fabric, may depart substantiallyfrom a circular cylindrical shape, for instance having a rectangularcross-section with rounded corners. To achieve the automatic release ofweb material from such uncircular cylindrical rolls special unwindingmeans must be employed.

An apparatus of the type mentioned above is known from U.S. Pat. No.4,004,748 which discloses unwinding conveying means comprising anunwinding cradle for a bolt of fabric having an oblong cross-section,said cradle being constituted by a loop of an endless driven beltsupported by and depending from two guides that are relatively movabletowards and away from each other as the bolt rotates, the guides movingrelatively away from each other as the bolt rotates to a horizontalposition and toward each other as the bolt rotates away from thehorizontal position. The frequency of the cyclical widening andnarrowing of the unwinding cradle in relation to the conveying speed ofthe endless belt sets limits for the variation of the cross-sectionaldimensions of the bolts to be unwound which does not allow all commonbolt sizes to be dealt with. Furthermore, when the web material is to beunwound from the bolt, the leading end and a considerable adjacentlength of web material must be unrolled and placed correctly over thedownstream guide to ensure correct unwinding. This is difficult,particularly for inexperienced customers in a retail operation, and theweight of some bolts will practically render this operation impossiblefor persons with slight physical strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the invention is to reduce the incidence of manualoperations and replace them by simple, accurate and automaticallyoperating mechanical means capable of accommodating all common rolls ofweb material such as textile, cloth, wallpaper or the like. This isobtained according to the invention by said apparatus comprisingunwinding means (e.g. 5-7) for unwinding a length of web material fromthe roll, the unwinding means comprising unwinding conveying means (e.g.5-7) and an unwinding surface adapted to support the roll arrangedtransversely to the conveying direction of the unwinding conveyingmeans, conveying means (e.g. 31-36, 42-44, 62, 63) for conveying theunwound lengths of web material to separating means for separating thepredetermined lengths of web material from the roll and measuring meansfor measuring the length of web material conveyed to the separatingmeans.

To facilitate the unwinding of the web material from the roll,restraining means (e.g. 10-12, 56-60) for restraining movement of theroll are preferably provided adjacent to the unwinding surface, and theunwinding surface is preferably inclined upwards in the conveyingdirection of the unwinding conveying means.

Advantageously, the unwinding surface comprises conveying means forconveying the unwound web material and the roll. Preferably, theunwinding surface constitutes at least a part of the unwinding conveyingmeans.

In a simple embodiment of the invention, the restraining means maycomprise inhibiting means (e.g. 10, 56) inhibiting movement of the rollin the conveying direction of the unwinding conveying means. To dealeffectively with rolls having cross-sections departing substantiallyfrom the circular form, the restraining means preferably compriseinfluencing means (e.g. 10, 58) influencing the roll in a directiongenerally opposite the conveying direction of the unwinding conveyingmeans. To overcome the resistance against rolling inherent in thenon-circular cross-section of some rolls, the influence on the roll bythe influencing means preferably has a vertical component.

The restraining means may be arranged to influence the rollssubstantially continuously. However, the restraining means areadvantageously arranged to interact intermittently with the roll, andthey preferably comprise one or more influencing elements arranged tointermittently intersect the path of the roll conveyed by the unwindingconveying means.

The elements may be arranged to move in different manners to achievethis end, for example moving to and fro along a linear or arcuate path,and the elements may be of a variety of shapes and sizes such as, forexample, rounded projections on a bar or paddle shaped members. However,in an embodiment the one or more influencing elements are arranged formovement in a closed trajectory positioned such that the movement of theone or more influencing elements at a point of the trajectoryintersecting the path of a roll conveyed by the unwinding means issubstantially opposite the conveying direction of the unwindingconveying means and has a vertical component. Preferably, theinfluencing elements are one or more rods longer than the maximumpossible width of the web material.

So as to ensure an efficient automatic unwinding and conveying ofdifferent types of web material the surface of the unwinding conveyingmeans and/or the conveying means of the unwinding surface engaging theweb material and the roll have a configuration adapted for frictionallyengaging the web material.

The conveying means of the unwinding surface for assisting in therelease of the web material from rolls and conveying the web materialaway from the rolls may comprise driven rollers or an endless beltlooping around driven rollers. However, in an embodiment the conveyingmeans of the unwinding surface comprise a plurality of spaced, flexibleendless strips having their upper portion extending along and definingthe unwinding surface and extending around and engagingly cooperatingwith two spaced rollers respectively defining the upstream anddownstream edges of the unwinding surface, the surface of the flexiblestrips facing the web material having a configuration adapted forfrictionally engaging the web material.

When conveying rollers are employed to convey web material, andparticularly when the conveying direction is changed at the roller, theweb material stiffness, the inertia of the moving web material, theinfluence of static electricity and other factors may cause the webmaterial to stray from the shortest possible path in an unpredictableand varying manner both when moving onto the roller and when leaving it,thus giving rise to inaccuracies in the subsequent measuring processand, in some cases, for example when dealing with thin fabrics, causingunpredictable trajectories for the conveyed web material. Therefore, itis advantageous that means are provided to influence the web materialagainst at least one first portion of the cylindrical surface defined bythe rotation of the surface of the roller defining the downstream edgeof the unwinding surface and/or means are provided to influence the webmaterial away from at least one second portion of the cylindricalsurface.

In an embodiment of the invention, means are provided to attract the webmaterial to at least one first portion of the cylindrical surfacedefined by the rotation of the surface of the roller defining thedownstream edge of the unwinding surface and/or means are provided torepel the web material from at least one second portion of thecylindrical surface.

In alternative embodiments of the apparatus according to the inventionit is advantageous to provide, downstream from the unwinding surface, atleast one roller and means to attract the web material to at least onefirst portion of the cylindrical surface defined by the rotation of thesurface of the roller and/or means to repel the web material from atleast one second portion of the cylindrical surface.

Preferably, the roller is hollow and is provided with aperturescommunicating with one or more regions in the interior thereof, each ofsaid regions communicating either with means to decrease the airpressure in that region or with means to increase the air pressure inthat region, and advantageously the roller is rotatably journalled on afixed body comprising means for increasing and decreasing the airpressure in the regions in the hollow roller.

The regions inside the hollow roller can be conduits extending into thehollow roller and having apertures opening adjacent the inner surface ofthe hollow roller, said conduits communicating with the means comprisedby the fixed body for increasing and decreasing the air pressure.However, it is preferable that the fixed body is arranged at leastpartly inside the roller and is provided with sealing means extendingparallel to the axis of rotation of the roller and sealingly engagingthe inner surface of the roller, the sealing means defining at least onefirst region and at least one second region between the inner surface ofthe roller and the outer surface of the fixed body, the fixed bodyhaving means in its interior communicating with the first region andwith suction means respectively and means communicating with the secondregion and with blowing means respectively, and it is advantageous thatthe fixed body is hollow and has sealing means in its interior definingat least one third and one fourth region, the third region communicatingwith the first region through at least one aperture in the fixed bodyand the fourth region communicating with the second region through atleast one further aperture in the fixed body. A simple manner ofachieving the journalling of the hollow roller on the fixed body isobtained by the fixed body being constituted by a hollow cylinder havingits axis coinciding with the axis of the roller.

In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the hollowroller is rotatably journalled on a fixed hollow inner cylinder providedwith sealing means extending parallel to the rotary axis of the rollerand sealingly engaging the inner surface of same, said sealing meansdefining at least one first region and at least one second regionbetween the inner surface of the hollow roller and the outer surface ofthe inner cylinder, the inner cylinder having sealing means in theinterior thereof defining at least one third and at least one fourthregion, the third region communicating with the first region throughapertures in the inner cylinder and the fourth region communicating withthe second region through further apertures in the inner cylinder, theinner cylinder further being closed at each end by closure members, atleast one of which having at least one first aperture and at least onesecond aperture, the first aperture communicating the third region withsuction means and the second aperture communicating the fourth regionwith blowing means.

The measuring means can comprise a variety of means arranged to followthe path of the web material such as, for example, an endless measuringstrip engaging the web material and arranged along the path of the webmaterial, for instance on the unwinding surface, and having iron inlayspassing by a magnetic sensing means. However, it is preferable that themeasuring means comprise rotary measuring means arranged to engage theweb material.

To achieve accurate measuring it is preferable that pressure means areprovided for pressing the web material against the rotary measuringmeans. The pressing means may consist of any means allowing the webmaterial to pass between the pressing means and the rotary measuringmeans without exerting frictional resistance sufficient to causeslippage between the web material and the rotary measuring means, suchas, for example, smooth, low-friction, biased plate members or lamella.However, it is preferable that the pressure means (e.g. 35) are rotarywith the axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotarymeasuring means,and it is further preferable that the pressure means arerotary with the axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of therotary measuring means.

It is a further main object of the invention that the accuracy of themeasuring be as precise as possible and inter alia not be influenced bydifferences in the conveying speed of any conveying elements upstreamand downstream from the measuring means as well as by fluctuatingtension in the web material caused by the unwinding of the web materialfrom the rolls. This object is achieved according to the invention byforming a buffer of the sheet of web material, the length of the sheetof web material in the buffer fluctuating according to variations inconveying speed and tension of the sheet of web material, the resistanceagainst such fluctuations being substantially constant. This may beachieved in many different manners such as, for example, deflecting thetrajectory of the sheet of web material by means of relatively light,easily displaced biased rollers. However, it is preferred that avertical space is defined between two vertical planes substantiallyperpendicular to the horizontal component of the web material conveyingdirection in a region downstream from the unwinding surface, theconveying speed of the web material upstream from the vertical spacebeing controlled in such a manner with relation to the conveying speedof the web material downstream from the vertical space that a dependingloop or buffer bulge of web material is formed and maintained in thevertical space.

In an embodiment the rotary measuring means and the pressure means aredisplaceable from a first, mutually spaced position, the space betweenthem being located in the path of the leading free end of the conveyedweb material downstream from the unwinding surface, and a second,mutually abutting position, one of the vertical planes containing theaxis of rotation of the rotary measuring means being in said secondposition and the other vertical plane containing the farthest downstreamof the lines constituted by either the downstream edge of the unwindingsurface or the axis of rotation of the farthest downstream of any suchrollers downstream from the unwinding surface and upstream from therotary measuring means.

To reduce the danger of slippage of the web material relative to therotative measuring means it is preferred that the rotary measuring meansand the rotary pressure means are rotatively driven in oppositedirections and at the same peripheral speed, and it is further preferredthat the rotary measuring means and the rotary pressure means eachcomprise a roller having a length substantially equal to the maximumpossible width of the web material.

The measuring of the length of web material for severing is preferablyachieved by the measuring means comprising means to measure theperipheral movement of the rotary measuring means, and in an embodimentthe measuring means comprise an electrical pulse generator generating anelectrical pulse each time the rotary measuring means has rotatedthrough a certain angle.

Preferably, the measuring means comprise sensing means sensing thepresence or the absence of the web material at one or more particularlocations in the vertical space defined by the two vertical planes, andit is further preferable that the sensing means activate controllingmeans controlling the conveying speed of the web material upstream fromthe vertical space. In an embodiment the sensing means further activatecontrolling means controlling the speed of the web material downstreamfrom the vertical space.

In an embodiment the sensing means activate displacement meansdisplacing the rotary measuring means and the pressure means from afirst, mutually spaced position to a second, mutually abutting position.

For delivering the severed length of web material to customers thelength can be configurated in various manners suitable for removal bythe customer such as, for example, winding the length into a roll.However, in an embodiment there are provided, downstream from themeasuring means, layering means for depositing the web material inlayers in a receptacle, the layering means comprising one or moredisplacing elements displacing a vertical portion of the web material toand fro in a substantially horizontal direction substantially at rightangles to the transverse dimension of the web material. Preferably,receptacle displacing means are provided for displacing the receptaclefrom a first folding position substantially vertically below thelayering means to a second emptying position at a height convenient formanual emptying.

Advantageously, the displacement path of the receptacle between saidfirst and second position may be such that the roll may be deposited inthe receptacle when the conveying direction of the conveying means ofthe unwinding surface is reversed after the separation operation.

The suppliers of the rolls of web material commonly do not pay muchattention to, accuracy with regard to the actual length of web materialin the rolls supplied, and to avoid annoying and costly problemsconnected with a shortfall when dispensing the last portion it isadvantageous to provide roll measuring means for measuring the amount ofweb material in the roll.

It is advantageous to provide at least one programmable data processingmeans for inter alia computing the remaining length of the web materialin each roll of web material.

To allow the customer to place the roll of web material in the apparatusin a simple manner with correct positioning on the unwinding surface toallow unwinding of the web material from the roll and to avoid thecostly intervention of shop clerks it is advantageous that web materialroll identification means are provided for identifying each roll, theidentification parameters including at least one of the group ofidentification parameters comprising material type, material price andthe length of the web material originally in the roll, and in anembodiment the identification means comprise a programmable elementfixedly attached in a predetermined position on each particular roll,means to programme said programmable element with at least one of theroll identification parameters, remote sensing means to remotely sensethe programmable electronic element for sensing the programmed rollidentification parameters and the position of the electronic element,means to indicate incorrect positioning of the roll on the unwindingsurface based on the position of the electronic element, andtransmission means to transmit the sensed roll identification parametersto the programmable data processing means.

An embodiment advantageously comprises input means for manuallyregistering the longitudinal dimension of the length of web material tobe severed from the roll and display means for displaying information,the information at least comprising an indication as to whether the rollcontains said required length of web material.

To further reduce the intervention of shop clerks it is preferred thatthe apparatus is provided with web material length identification meansfor identifying each severed length of web material. The web materiallength identification means may further comprise printing means forprinting web material length identification parameters comprising atleast one of the group of identification parameters comprising materialtype, material unitary price, dimension of the length of severed webmaterial and the total price of the length of severed web material.

To avoid fraud, the web material identification means may compriseprinting means to print on tamper-evident labels and means to attach thelabels to the severed lengths of web material.

In some cases, the web material is such that it is unsuited forautomatic measuring and severing, for instance too fragile or toodeformable, and therefore it is advantageous that there are providedmanual operating means for manually measuring and severing lengths ofweb material, and in an embodiment the manual operating means compriseinput means for manually registering the longitudinal dimension of thelength of web material severed from the roll, remote sensing means toremotely sense the electronic element for sensing the programmed webmaterial roll identification parameters and transmission means totransmit the sensed identification parameters to the programmable dataprocessing means, printing means for printing identification parameterscomprising at least one of the group of identification parameterscomprising web material type, material unitary price, dimension of thelength of severed web material and the total price of the length ofsevered web material.

According to a further aspect, the present invention also relates to aroller comprising means to attract the material to at least a firstportion of the cylindrical surface defined by the rotation of thesurface of the roller and/or means to repel the material from at least asecond portion of the cylindrical surface.

In continuation of the features of the invention directed towards theobject of the invention of increasing the efficiency in retailoperations related to web materials such as textiles, wallpaper and thelike, a further aspect of the invention relates to an integrated stockcontrolling system for a stock of web material such as textiles,wallpaper and the like wound on rolls, the system comprising at leastone programmable data processing means comprising a database andcommunicating with and receiving data from data input and generatingmeans associated with at least one of:

roll content checking means,

dispensing means for dispensing individually predetermined lengths ofthe web material from the rolls,

a cash register for recording sales of said lengths of web material and

a stock replenishing order placement system for ordering new supplies ofweb material.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further explained with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, partial lateral sectional view of a firstembodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, shown at anearly stage in the measuring and severing process,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the apparatus being at a later stagein the process,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and 2, the apparatus being at an evenlater stage in the process,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of aroller according to the invention and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line A—A in FIG. 4

FIGS. 6-11 are views similar to FIGS. 1-3 of a second embodiment of theapparatus according to the invention at various successive stages of theprocess, and

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating the flow of the web material andof the identification data between the different elements of theapparatus according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, bolts of web material such as cloth, fabric,textile, wallpaper or the like are shown with three alternativeconfigurations 1, 1 a; 2, 2 a; and 3. The bolt 1, 1 a, the referencenumeral 1 denoting a first position on an inclined surface 4 and thereference numeral 1 a denoting a second such position, has across-section typical of bolts of cloth and the like where the webmaterial is wound on a core with a rectangular cross-section. The bolt2, 2 a has a similar shape but contains either less or thinner webmaterial, while the bolt 3 is wound on a core with a circularcross-section.

The inclined surface 4 is defined by spaced endless-flexible strips 5extending around substantially horizontal rollers 6 and 7 defining alower, upstream edge and an upper, down-stream edge, respectively, ofthe inclined surface 4. The roller 6 is rotated clockwise and causes theupper portions of the strips 5 to move in the conveying direction of theweb material as indicated by the arrows d.

A roller 8 is arranged adjacent to the roller 6 and a cradle-like spaceis defined therebetween. A plate 9 is arranged higher than and slopingdown towards the roller 8. Rods 10 with a substantially circularcross-section are connected to and arranged between two circular plates12 mounted on a rotary axle 11. The length of the rods is longer thanthe maximum possible width of the web material. The circular plates 12rotate clockwise so that the rods 10 intersect the path of the bolts 1,2 conveyed by the endless strips 5.

The bolt 1, 2, or 3 is introduced by the customer into the housing 13 ofthe apparatus through an aperture (not shown) and is placed in theregion comprising the plate 9, the rollers 8 and 6 and the lower portionof the inclined unwinding surface 4 with the orientation of the boltsuch that counter-clockwise rotation of same will unwind the webmaterial 14 from the bolt. Means to ensure that this requirement iscomplied with are provided and will be described in the following.

When the unwinding and conveying operation starts, the bolt 3 with agenerally circular cross-section will remain in the cradle between therollers 8 and 6 and will rotate counter-clockwise under the combinedinfluence of the endless strips 5 and the force of gravity, and the webmaterial 14 will be unwound from the bolt 3 and conveyed by the strips 5having a surface with a high coefficient of friction. The bolts 1 or 2,respectively, are conveyed by the strips 5 until they project beyond theroller 7 into the path of the rods 10. The rods 10 lift and, incooperation with the motion of the strips 5, rotate the bolts 1 or 2counter-clockwise through the positions denoted by the referencenumerals 1 a or 2 a, respectively, until they have rotated half arevolution whereafter the process is repeated. The web material 14 isthus unwound from the bolt 1 or 2 and conveyed onwards.

The roller 7 receives the web material from the endless strips 5, andthe conveying direction of the web material is altered so that it leavesthe roller 7 vertically downwards. To intercept the leading edge of theweb material 14 and ensure that the web material follows the contour ofthe roller 7 and does not overshoot because of web material stiffness orinertia or cling to the roller 7 because of static electricity, thecylindrical surface described by the surface of the roller 7 during itsrotation has a sucking region where the web material is sucked againstthe surface of the roller, thereby effectively engaging the web material14, eliminating tendencies to overshoot and ensuring an effectivealteration of the conveying direction. The sucking region extendssubstantially over the upper half of the cylindrical surface. The lowerhalf of the cylindrical surface is a blowing region where the webmaterial is blown away from the surface of the roller, i.e. as soon asthe desired conveying direction has been obtained, thereby eliminatingtendencies to cling to the roller.

An embodiment of the roller 7 is illustrated in FIGS. 4-5. An outerrotary hollow cylinder 15 is journalled on an inner fixed hollowcylinder 16 by means of bearings 17. The interior of the fixed cylinder16 is divided into two regions 24 and 25 by an airtight partition 18fixedly arranged on the interior surface of the inner cylinder 16, forinstance by means of friction between the partition 18 and said innersurface. Sealing strips 19 are fixed in slots in the outer surface ofthe inner cylinder 16 and extend radially outward to engage the innersurface of the outer cylinder 15. The strips 19 are flexible and bearagainst the inner surface of the outer cylinder 15 so that asubstantially airtight partition is formed dividing the region betweenthe outer cylinder 15 and the inner cylinder 16 into two regions 20 and21.

Apertures 22 extending through the shell of the outer cylinder 15 aredistributed over the entire extent of the cylinder. Apertures 23extending through the shell of the inner cylinder 16 are distributedover the portion of the cylinder extending between the bearings 17. Ateach end the inner cylinder 16 is connected to a chamber defined by aplate 26 and divided into two regions 27 and 28 by the partition 18. Theregion 27 communicates with a conduit 29 communicating 5 with suctionmeans (not shown). The region 28 communicates with a conduit 30communicating with blowing means (not shown). The angular position ofthe assembly comprising the inner cylinder 16, the partition 18, thestrips 19, the plate 26 and the conduits 29 and 30 may be adjusted sothat the planes containing the partition 18 and the strips 19 can formany angle with the horizontal plane.

The outer surface of the outer cylinder 15 has circumferential grooves(not shown) with a width equal to the width of the endless strips 5. Thegrooves receive the endless strips 5 and fix them axially with respectto the outer cylinder 15 to preserve the spacing between them.

In operation, the suction means cause air to be sucked through theapertures 22 into the region 21 by lowering the pressure in said regionby sucking air away from it through the apertures 23, the region 24 andthe conduit 29. The blowing means cause air to be blown through theapertures 22 from the region 20 by increasing the pressure in saidregion by blowing air into it through the apertures 23, the region 25and the conduit 30.

As the outer cylinder 15 rotates, each of the apertures 22 willalternate between sucking air into the cylinder and expelling air fromthe cylinder according to whether it communicates with region 21 or withregion 20, respectively. Thus, the sucking and blowing regions of thecircumference of the cylindrical surface described by the surface of theroller 7 during its rotation are formed.

The angular positions of these regions can be adjusted by adjusting theangular position of the inner cylinder 16. The relative size of theseregions can be altered by altering the angular position of the sealingstrips 19 on the inner cylinder 16.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3 two spaced plates 31 are arranged below thecircular plates 12, the distance between the plates 31 being largeenough to allow the widest possible web material to be conveyed betweenthem. The plates 31 form a frame which is pivotable about pins 37 from afirst web material capturing position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to ameasuring and severing position shown in FIG. 3. A measuring roller 32is rotatably mounted on and extends between the two plates 31. A rockerarm 33 is pivotally arranged about a pin 34 on each of the plates 31. Apressure roller 35 is rotatably mounted on and extends between the upperends of the two rocker arms 33. A displacing roller 36 is rotatablymounted on and extends between the lower ends of the two rocker arms 33.

Two photoelectric cells 38 and 39 are arranged at two levels, the linesof activation 40 and 41, respectively, of the cells 38 and 39intersecting the web material conveying path vertically below the roller7.

A pulley 42 driven by an electric motor 43 rotates the measuring roller32 and the displacing roller 36 by means of a belt drive 44. Thedisplacing roller 36 rotates the pressure roller 35 by means of anotherbelt drive (not shown). Hereby the measuring roller 32, the displacingroller 36 and the pressure roller 35 rotate with the same peripheralspeed, the direction of rotation of the pressure roller 35(counter-clockwise) being the opposite of that of the two other rollers(clockwise).

A receptacle 45 for layered or folded web material 14 a is carried bytwo pairs of rods 46 and 47 journalled in the housing by means of pins48 and 49, respectively. The rods 47 engage the plates 31 by means ofpins 50 that abut engagement edge portions 31 a of the plates 31. Thereceptacle 45 is pivotally attached to the arms 46 and 47 by means ofpins 51 and 52, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the leading edge of the web material 14 hasleft the roller 7 and has descended through the space between themeasuring roller 32 and the pressure roller 35, said rollers being in aninitial, spaced position where the plate 31 is in its folded webmaterial delivery position where the receptacle 45 is positioned foreasy removal of the web material severed and layered in the precedingdispensing cycle.

When the leading edge of the web material 14 intersects the line ofactivation of the photosensitive cell 39 a signal from the cell 39activates pivoting means (not shown) to pivot the arms 33 about the pins34 so as to cause the pressure roller 35 to abut the measuring roller 32with the web material 14 pressed between said two rollers as shown inFIG. 2. The displacing roller 36 displaces the leading edge of the webmaterial 14 so that it will be positioned above the receptacle 45 in thelayering position thereof with sufficient lateral clearance for thelayering operation as shown in FIG. 3.

In the following step pivoting means (not shown) pivot the plates 31about the pins 37 into the position shown in FIG. 3 thereby laterallydisplacing the pressure roller 35 and measuring roller 32 with the webmaterial 14 clamped therebetween into the measuring and severingposition thereof. A vertical space is created between the roller 7 andthe measuring roller 32.

The initial conveying speed of the unwinding surface defined by therollers 6 and 7 and the strips 5 is higher than the conveying speed ofthe measuring roller 32 and pressure roller 35 so that a loop of the webmaterial 14 is formed in said vertical space. The loop developsdownwards until the web material intersects the line of activation ofthe cell 39 as shown in FIG. 3 whereupon a signal from the cell 39 stopsor slows the conveying action of the unwinding surface 4 so that theconveying speed of the measuring roller 32 and pressure roller 35 ishigher than the conveying speed of the unwinding surface 4. This causesthe height of the depending loop of web material 14 to decrease untilthe lowest portion of the loop moves above the line of activation of thephotosensitive cell 38, whereupon a signal from the cell 38 restores theconveying speed of the unwinding surface 4 to its initial value,whereupon the height of the loop of web material increases again.

The loop of web material serves as a tension equalizing buffer topractically eliminate any variations in the tension of the web material14 when engaging the measuring roller 32 so that no slippage giving riseto measuring errors can occur therebetween.

When the plates 31 pivot into the measuring and severing position ofFIG. 3 the receptacle 45 is swung into its layering position by means ofinteraction between the engagement edge portions 31 a of the plates 31and the pins 50. The receptacle 45 swings down under the influence ofgravity as the plates 31 pivot, the arms 46 and 47 pivoting about thepins 48 and 49, respectively and the pins 50 sliding downwards along theedge portions 31 a. The receptacle is swung into its folded web materialdelivery position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the plates 31 pivotcounter-clockwise and the edge portions 31 a exert pressure on the pins50 whereby the arms 46 and 47 pivot and the pins 50 slide upwards on theedge portions 31 a.

Severing means are provided between the measuring roller 32 and thedisplacement roller 36 and they comprise a plate element 51 attached toand extending between the rocker arms 33 and having a rectilinear notch(not shown) with a length at least equal to the maximum possible widthof the web material 14 and extending substantially at right angles tothe conveying direction of the web material 14 and a circular knife 52.The circular knife 52 is rotatable and displaceable into cuttingengagement with the notch in the plate element 51 and when in engagementwith the notch it is furthermore displaceable along the notch forcutting the web material 14 clamped between the knife 52 and the plateelement 51.

The measuring roller 32 emits 200 electrical pulses pr. revolution, eachpulse representing the same amount of angular movement of the roller 32.The desired length of web material to be unwound, measured, severed andfolded is by the customer read into a programmable data processing meansby means of a keyboard. The amount of pulses emitted by the measuringroller 32 from the moment it abuts the pressure roller 35 and clamps theweb material 14 therebetween is a measure of the amount of web materialhaving passed by the measuring roller and this measure is via means wellknown in the art compared with the desired length until the correctmeasure has been achieved taking into consideration the distance fromthe leading edge of the web material 14 to the severing means at themoment of starting the measuring process. When the correct measure hasbeen achieved the measuring roller 32 is stopped and the knife 52 isdisplaced for engagement with the notch in the plate 51 and thereafterdisplaced along the notch thereby severing the web material 14.

Web material layering displacement means (not shown) for rhythmicallydisplacing the web material 14 horizontally to and fro in a direction atright angles to the axis of the displacement roller 35 are arrangedbetween the displacement roller 35 and the receptacle 45. During themeasuring operation said layering displacement means swing the webmaterial 14 to and fro so as to, in cooperation with the downwardmovement of the web material, build up the layers of folded web material14 a in the receptacle 45.

When the layered web material has been removed from the receptacle and anew roll is about to be inserted in the apparatus through the aperturein the housing 13, said aperture being closed by a locked, hinged plate(not shown), the lock being controlled by the data processing means, theconveying direction of the unwinding surface 4 is reversed so that thebolts 1 or 2 are displaced until abutting the roller 8 whereafter theplate 9 and said roller are displaced downwards so as to allow the roll1, 2 or 3 to fall into the bottom of the apparatus for periodic removalby a sales clerk through another aperture (not shown) in the housing.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-11, a second embodiment of an apparatusaccording to the invention is shown, similar elements having the samereference numerals as in FIGS. 1-3.

An apparatus casing 13 has an aperture for inserting a bolt of webmaterial 1 and a swingable and a displaceable closure element 53 and 54,respectively, for closing the aperture in the casing during operation ofthe apparatus.

The bolt is placed on an inclined surface 4 defined by 20 endlessflexible strips 5 extending around rollers 6 and 7 as in FIGS. 1-3. Therollers 6 and 7 are pivotably attached to two spaced plate members 55that are slidably arranged on track members 61 fixedly attached to thecasing 13.

A set of sprocket wheels 59 and 60 are rotatably arranged on each platemember 55 for driving a chain 57 for each set. Spaced rods 58 areattached at either end thereof to the chains 57. An abutment plate 56 isfixedly arranged on the plate members 55 extending therebetween. Apressure roller 35 and a web severing device 64 are arranged on andbetween the plate members 55.

A second slidable plate member 62 is slidably arranged on track members63 on each of the plate members 55. A web measuring roller 32 and a weblayering funnel 65 are pivotably arranged on the plate members 62extending therebetween.

A receptacle 45 for layered web material is slidably arranged oninclined track members 66 arranged on walls of the casing 13. Anabutment member 67 is pivotably arranged on the plate members 55extending therebetween. In operation, the closure elements 53 and 54 areopened from the closed position thereof shown in FIG. 7 to the openposition thereof shown in FIG. 6. The bolt 1 of textile is placed on theinclined surface 4 with the free end of the web on the surface 4 andpointing away from the aperture in the casing 13. The closure elements53 and 54 close the aperture, and the bolt is transported by theflexible strips 5 upwards along the surface 4 until the bolt abuts theabutment plate 56 as shown in FIG. 7. In this position, the sprocketwheels 59 and 60 start moving the rods 58 on the chains 57 clockwisethereby lifting the bolt 1 at its forward end, the continued movement ofthe strips 5 and the lifting action of the rod 58 cooperating tooverturn the bolt 1 so that web material 14 is unwound therefrom anddepends from the roller 7.

A photosensitive cell 38 senses whether the web material 14 has passedthrough its sensing area within a predetermined time period afterclosing the closure elements 53 and 54. If so, the operation continues.If not, the operation is discontinued and the strips 5 reverse, therebyreturning the bolt to its original position and an alarm indication isgenerated to indicate error as regards placement of the bolt 1 on thesurface 4.

If operation continues, the plate members 62 are displaced along thetrack members 63 as shown in FIG. 8, thereby pinching the web material14 between the measuring and pressure rollers 32 and 35.

The measuring of the length of web material to be severed commences andthe web material 14 is lowered into the funnel member 65 that swings toand fro as indicated in FIG. 9 so as to deposit the web material inlayers 14 a in the receptacle 45. As the web material 14 moves from theroller 7 to the rollers 32, 35 either a depending loop 70 or aprojecting bulge 71 of the web material 14, depending on the stiffnessof the web material, will be formed because of slightly higher conveyingspeed of the flexible strips 5 and roller 7 than the conveying speed ofthe rollers 32, 35. Photosensitive cells 72 and 73 having a direction ofactivation substantially parallel to the axes of the rollers 7, 32 and35 are located such that the conveying speeds may be adjusted wheneverthe loop 70 or bulge 71 surpasses the size that activates the cell 72 or73.

When the measuring operation is terminated the web 14 is severed bymeans of the severing device 64 and the plate members 55 are displacedalong the track members 61 as shown in FIG. 10 so as to afford clearancefor the displacement of the receptacle 45 along the track members 66.The flexible strips 5 reverse, thereby moving the bolt 1 towards theabutment plate 67. The abutment plate 67 is pivoted to the positionshown in FIG. 11.

The receptacle 45 is displaced along the track members 66 until it isdirectly below the roller 6 in which position the strips 5 deposit thebolt 1 on the layered web 14 a in the receptacle 45. The receptaclecontinues until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 11 whereafter theclosure members 53 and 54 open the aperture and the operator may removethe bolt 1 and the layered length of web material. The apparatus is nowready for a further operational cycle.

All the operations are controlled by data processing means.

In both the embodiments shown and described, web material lengthidentification means (not shown) are provided, said means comprisingprinting means communicating with the programmable data processing meansto print the length, web material type, unitary price and total price ofthe severed length of web material on a tamper-evident label and affixthe label to the severed length of web material before the receptacle 45is presented to the customer for removal of the layered web material. Apractical identification for payment purposes is hereby achieved and itprevents fraud involving for instance processing two differently pricedorders, exchanging the labels and only carrying the most expensive butcheapest priced order past the cash register.

Likewise, in both embodiments, remote sensing means communicating withthe programmable data processing means may be provided adjacent theinclined plate 9. Each roll of web material is in such case providedwith a programmable electronic element located on the core or on theterminal end of the web material in rolls without cores. The electronicelement is placed at the same end on all rolls in relation to theorientation of the free web material end and it is programmed withidentification data comprising web material type, web material price andoriginal total length of web material in the roll before being affixedto the roll. When a customer selects the roll for purchasing a length ofweb material therefrom he or she carries it to the apparatus and placesit therein. The remote sensing means senses the location of theelectronic element and will emit a signal to a display located adjacentthe roll insertion aperture of the apparatus if said location indicatesthat the roll has been placed incorrectly on the unwinding surface 5 sothat the free material end of the roll is oriented away from theconveying direction of the flexible strips 5. The display will theninstruct the customer to remove the roll and turn it around beforeinserting it again.

The remote sensing means will also sense the identification data andtransmit same to the programmable data processing means. Hereby thedatabase of said data processing means will receive information enablingthe data processing means inter alia to:

1) compute remaining length on the roll by subtracting lengthsregistered in said database as being previously dispensed,

2) determine whether said remaining length is sufficient to fill theorder which the customer registers on a key board provided on theexterior surface of the apparatus,

3) indicate on the display whether the order can be fulfilled andperhaps indicate a special price for the remaining length after theorder has been fulfilled if said remaining length is less than theminimum length to be kept in stock,

4) compute the price of the length to be severed,

5) activate the printing means to print the corresponding label,

6) up-date the book-keeping system, the stock inventory system and thestock replenishing system,

7) notify the sales personnel that processed rolls should be emptiedfrom the apparatus when a predetermined amount of such have beenprocessed, and

8) notify the sales personnel that a customer requires a length of webmaterial of a type requiring assistance for manual dispensing due to theweb material being unsuited for mechanical dispensing.

Referring to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 12 the flow of the webmaterial and the rolls of same are indicated by broken lines while theflow of data is indicated by uninterrupted lines. Rolls of web materialare stored and displayed in the Storage, wherefrom the customers chooseone or more rolls and carry them either to a Mechanic Dispenser, forinstance comprising the apparatus according to FIGS. 1-3 or 6-11 or to aManual Severing Station. When the rolls of web material arrive from thesuppliers it is necessary to check the contents of the rolls by means ofa Roll Contents Checker, for instance of the type weighing one unit ofthe length of the web material and computing the length of web materialon the roll by weighing the roll and deducting the weight of the core,if any, in the roll. The Roll Contents Checker is associated with anElectronic Element Programmer for programming a programmable electronicelement 100 with information regarding the type of material, the unitaryprice of same and the length of web material in the roll when it wasreceived from the supplier. The element 100 is affixed to a core 101 ofa roll or bolt 102 of web material taking care to affix it to the sameend on all rolls in relation to the unwinding direction of the webmaterial off the rolls.

After being processed at the Roll Contents Checker the rolls aretransferred to the storage. The customers choose a roll and carry it toa Mechanical Dispenser which for instance may be the apparatus shown inFIGS. 1-3. The customer places the roll in the mechanical Dispenser andtypes the length of web material desired on a keyboard associated withthe Mechanical Dispenser. The Mechanical Dispenser is further associatedwith a Remote Sensor for sensing the information programmed in theElectronic Element and transmitting said information to a Storage SystemComputer and a Database. The Remote sensor further senses the locationof the Electronic Element in the Mechanical Dispenser, and if the rollhas been inserted with the wrong orientation for the unwinding of theweb material from the roll a display (not shown) will instruct thecustomer to remove the roll and turn it around before inserting itagain. A Controller for controlling the operation of the MechanicalDispenser and for communicating with the Storage System Computer is alsoassociated with the Mechanical Dispenser. A Printer controlled by theController is also associated with the Mechanical Dispenser for printinginformation on a label to be affixed on the severed length of webmaterial as described earlier.

If the type of web material is such that it is not suited for processingin the Mechanical Dispenser, the Remote Sensor and the Storage SystemComputer will cause the display to indicate this fact to the customerand instruct same to await a sales clerk that has been warned by theStorage System Computer to the effect that the customer needsassistance. The sales clerk carries the roll to the Manual Dispenser andmeasures and severs the desired length manually while the Remote Sensor,the Keyboard and the Printer associated with the Manual Dispenseroperate in essentially the same manner as the ones associated with theMechanical Dispenser.

The severed length of web material is transported by the customer fromthe Mechanical or Manual Dispenser to a Cash Register where theinformation on the label is registered and the customer can pay andleave with the acquired web material. The Cash Register communicateswith the Storage System Computer for registering that the sold webmaterial actually has been removed from the premises. The rolls fromwhich web material has been severed are returned to the Storage by thesales personnel.

In this manner, a comprehensive control of the storage of web materialis achieved whereby restocking requirements, inventory etc. can beconstantly updated with minimal human intervention.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for dispensing a predeterminedlength of a web material from a roll of wound web material, saidapparatus comprising: a housing; unwinding means for unwinding webmaterial from the roll, the unwinding means comprising an unwindingsurface for reception and support of the roll, and unwinding conveyingmeans for unwinding web material from the roll when positioned on theunwinding surface with the roll axis transversely to a conveyingdirection of the unwinding conveying means; severing means forseparating web material from the roll; and conveying means for capturinga leading free end of unwound web material hanging by gravity downstreamfrom said unwinding surface and for conveying said unwound web materialfrom the unwinding means to the severing means, said conveying meansincluding: a pivotable frame pivotally attached to said housing andpivotable about a first pivot axis; rotary measuring means attached tosaid pivotable frame for automatically engaging the web material and formeasuring a predetermined length of web material conveyed to thesevering means; a rocker arm pivotally attached to said pivotable frameand pivotable about a second pivot axis; pressure means attached to saidrocker arm for pressing the web material against the rotary measuringmeans and for automatically bringing the unwound web material intoforced operating engagement with the rotary measuring means so that thepredetermined length of unwound web material can be automaticallyconveyed to the severing means, the severing means and the conveyingmeans being adapted to cooperate with the rotary measuring means, sothat the predetermined length of web material can be separated from theroll, said pressure means being displaceable from a first position to asecond position, said rotary measuring means and said pressure meansbeing spaced-apart and located on opposite sides of a path of theleading free end of the unwound web material hanging by gravitydownstream from said unwinding surface when said rotary measuring meansand said pressure means are in said first position, and said pressuremeans pressing the unwound web material against said rotary measuringmeans when said rotary measuring means and said pressure means are insaid second position; sensing means for sensing the presence of theleading free end of the unwound web material in said path; displacingmeans for pivoting said rocker arm about said second pivot axis to movesaid pressure means from said first position to said second position tocapture the leading free end of the unwound web material between saidpressure means and said measuring means, and for pivoting said pivotableframe about said first pivot axis to move said measuring means togetherwith said pressure means to a third position spaced horizontallydownstream from said unwinding surface; and control means for actuatingsaid displacing means to displace said pressure means from said firstposition to said second position upon detection of the leading free endof the unwound web material in said path by said sensing means, and todisplace said pivotable frame about said first pivot axis to move saidmeasuring means together with said pressure means to said thirdposition.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisingrestraining means located adjacent to the unwinding surface forrestraining movement of the roll.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the restraining means are arranged to interact intermittentlywith the roll.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein therestraining means comprise at least one influencing element arranged tointermittently intersect the path of the roll conveyed by the unwindingconveying means.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at leastone of said at least one influencing element is arranged for movement ina closed trajectory positioned such that the movement of the influencingelement at a point of the trajectory intersecting the path of a rollconveyed by the unwinding means has a vertical component.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the restraining means compriseinhibiting means inhibiting movement of the roll in the conveyingdirection of the unwinding conveying means.
 7. The apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the restraining means comprise influencing meansinfluencing the roll in a direction generally opposite the conveyingdirection of the unwinding conveying means.
 8. The apparatus accordingto claim 7, wherein the influence on the roll by the influencing meanshas a vertical component.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe unwinding surface constitutes at least a part of the unwindingconveying means.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thereis provided, downstream from the unwinding surface, at least one rollerand means to influence the web material in a direction selected from thegroup consisting of a direction against at least one first portion ofthe cylindrical surface defined by the rotation of the surface of theroller, and a direction away from at least one second portion of thecylindrical surface.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thepressure means are rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to anaxis of rotation of the rotary measuring means.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the unwindingsurface is inclined upwards in the conveying direction of the unwindingconveying means.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thesurface of the unwinding conveying means engaging the web material andthe roll have a configuration adapted for frictionally engaging the webmaterial.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the unwindingconveying means comprise a plurality of spaced, flexible endless stripshaving an upper portion extending along and defining the unwindingsurface and extending around and engagingly cooperating with a firstroller and a second roller, the first roller defining an upstream edgeof the unwinding surface, the second roller defining a downstream edgeof the unwinding surface, the surface of the flexible strips facing theweb material having a configuration adapted to frictionally engage theweb material.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, furthercomprising means to influence the web material in a direction selectedfrom the group consisting of a direction against at least one firstportion of a cylindrical surface defined by the rotation of the surfaceof the second roller, and a direction away from at least one secondportion of said cylindrical surface.
 16. The apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein the second roller is hollow and is provided withapertures forming a connective passage with at least one region in theinterior thereof, said region connecting with means for changing the airpressure in that region.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the second roller is rotatably journalled on a fixed hollowinner cylinder provided with sealing means extending parallel to therotary axis of the second roller and sealingly engaging the innersurface of the second roller, said sealing means defining at least onefirst region and at least one second region between the inner surface ofthe second roller and the outer surface of the inner cylinder, the innercylinder having sealing means in the interior thereof defining at leastone third region and at least one fourth region, the third regionconnecting with the first region through apertures in the innercylinder, the fourth region connecting with the second region throughfurther apertures in the inner cylinder, the inner cylinder furtherbeing closed at each end by closure members, at least one of saidclosure members having at least one first aperture and at least onesecond aperture, the first aperture connecting the third region withsuction means, and the second aperture connecting the fourth region withblowing means.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein avertical space is defined between two vertical planes substantiallyperpendicular to the horizontal component of the conveying direction ofthe unwinding conveying means in a region downstream from the unwindingsurface, the conveying speed of the web material upstream from saidvertical space being controlled in such a manner with relation to theconveying speed of the web material downstream from the vertical spacethat a buffer bulge of web material is formed and maintained in thevertical space.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein therotary measuring means comprise means for measuring the peripheralmovement of the rotary measuring means.
 20. The apparatus according toclaim 18, wherein the sensing means are adapted to activate controllingmeans for controlling the conveying speed of the web material upstreamfrom the vertical space.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 18,wherein the sensing means are adapted to activate controlling means forcontrolling the speed of the web material downstream from the verticalspace.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotarymeasuring means comprise an electrical pulse generator for generating anelectrical pulse each time the rotary measuring means has rotatedthrough a certain angle.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising layering means located downstream from the rotary measuringmeans for depositing the web material in layers in a receptacle, thelayering means comprising at least one displacing element for displacinga vertical portion of the web material in a substantially horizontaldirection substantially at right angles to the transverse dimension ofthe web material.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23, furthercomprising receptacle displacing means for displacing the receptaclefrom a first folding position substantially vertically below thelayering means to a second emptying position at a height which allowsfor manual emptying thereof.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising roll measuring means for measuring the amount of webmaterial in the roll.
 26. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising programmable data processing means.
 27. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising web material rollidentification means for identifying each roll, the roll identificationparameters including at least one of the group of identificationparameters comprising web material type, web material price and thelength of the web material originally in the roll.
 28. The apparatusaccording to claim 27, wherein the identification means comprise: aprogrammable electronic element fixedly attached in a predeterminedposition on each particular roll; means to program said electronicelement with at least one of the roll identification parameters; remotesensing means to remotely sense the electronic element for sensing theprogrammed roll identification parameters and the position of theelectronic element means to indicate incorrect positioning of the rollon the unwinding surface based on the position of the electronicelement; and transmission means to transmit the sensed rollidentification parameters to programmable data processing means.
 29. Theapparatus according to claim 28, further comprising manual operatingmeans for manually measuring and severing lengths of web material. 30.The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the manual operating meanscomprise: input means for manually registering the longitudinaldimension of the length of web material severed from the roll; remotesensing means to remotely sense the electronic element for sensing theroll identification parameters; transmission means to transmit thesensed roll identification parameters to the programmable dataprocessing means; and printing means for printing identificationparameters comprising at least one of the group of identificationparameters comprising web material type, web material unitary price,dimension of the length of severed web material and the total price ofthe length of severed web material.
 31. The apparatus according to claim1, further comprising: input means for manually registering thelongitudinal dimension of the length of web material to be severed fromthe rolls; and display means for displaying information, the informationat least comprising an indication as to whether the roll contains saidrequired length of web material.
 32. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising web material length identification means foridentifying each severed length of web material.
 33. The apparatusaccording to claim 32, wherein the web material length identificationmeans comprise printing means for printing web material lengthidentification parameters comprising at least one of the group ofidentification parameters comprising web material type, web materialunitary price, dimension of the length of severed web material and thetotal price of the length of severed web material.
 34. The apparatusaccording to claim 33, wherein the web material length identificationmeans further comprise: printing means for printing on tamper-evidentlabels; and means for attaching the labels to the severed lengths of webmaterial.
 35. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising astock controlling system for a stock of the web material wound on rolls,said system comprising at least one programmable data processing meanscomprising a database and communicating with and receiving data fromdata input and generating means associated with at least one of: rollcontent checking means, dispensing means for dispensing individuallypredetermined lengths of the web material from the rolls, a cashregister for recording sales of said lengths of web material, and astock replenishing order placement system for ordering new supplies ofweb material.
 36. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidrotary measuring means is located below said unwinding conveying meanswhen in said first position.
 37. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a portion of said conveying means is located below saidunwinding conveying means.
 38. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a motor for rotatably driving said rotary measuringmeans.
 39. An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined length of a webmaterial from a roll of wound web material, said apparatus comprising:unwinding means for unwinding web material from the roll, the unwindingmeans comprising an unwinding surface for reception and support of theroll, and unwinding conveying means for unwinding web material from theroll when positioned on the unwinding surface with the roll axistransversely to a conveying direction of the unwinding conveying means;separating means for separating web material from the roll; conveyingmeans for conveying unwound web material from the unwinding means to theseparating means; rotary measuring means for automatically engaging theweb material and for measuring a predetermined length of web materialconveyed to the separating means; pressure means for pressing the webmaterial against the rotary measuring means and for automaticallybringing the unwound web material into forced operating engagement withthe rotary measuring means so that the predetermined length of unwoundweb material can be automatically conveyed to the separating means, theseparating means and the conveying means being adapted to cooperate withthe rotary measuring means, so that the predetermined length of webmaterial can be separated from the roll; and restraining means locatedadjacent to the unwinding surface for restraining movement of the roll,the restraining means comprising inhibiting means inhibiting movement ofthe roll in the conveying direction of the unwinding conveying means,the restraining means arranged to interact intermittently with the roll,the restraining means comprising at least one influencing elementarranged to intermittently intersect the path of the roll conveyed bythe unwinding conveying means, wherein the at least one influencingelement comprises at least one rod which is longer than the maximumpossible width of the web material.
 40. An apparatus for dispensing apredetermined length of a web material from a roll of wound webmaterial, said apparatus comprising: unwinding means for unwinding webmaterial from the roll, the unwinding means comprising an unwindingsurface for reception and support of the roll, and unwinding conveyingmeans for unwinding web material from the roll when positioned on theunwinding surface with the roll axis transversely to a conveyingdirection of the unwinding conveying means; separating means forseparating web material from the roll; conveying means for conveyingunwound web material from the unwinding means to the separating means;rotary measuring means for automatically engaging the web material andfor measuring a predetermined length of web material conveyed to theseparating means; pressure means for pressing the web material againstthe rotary measuring means and for automatically bringing the unwoundweb material into forced operating engagement with the rotary measuringmeans so that the predetermined length of unwound web material can beautomatically conveyed to the separating means, the separating means andthe conveying means being adapted to cooperate with the rotary measuringmeans, so that the predetermined length of web material can be separatedfrom the roll; layering means located downstream from the rotarymeasuring means for depositing the web material in layers in areceptacle, the layering means comprising at least one displacingelement for displacing a vertical portion of the web material in asubstantially horizontal direction substantially at right angles to thetransverse dimension of the web material; and receptacle displacingmeans for displacing the receptacle from a first folding positionsubstantially vertically below the layering means to a second emptyingposition at a height which allows for manual emptying thereof, whereinthe displacement path of the receptacle between said first position andsaid second position is such that the roll may be deposited in thereceptacle when the conveying direction of the unwinding conveying meansis reversed after a separation operation.
 41. The apparatus according toclaim 40, further comprising a housing, and wherein said conveying meanscomprises a sliding frame slidably attached to said housing andsupporting said rotary measuring means.